Messianic Jewish Bible Institute | Distance Learning

MJBI Professors:

Jonathan Bernis , Phoenix, Arizona, USA Website: www.jewishvoice.org

Jonathan is the executive director of Jewish Voice Ministries International. This ministry has reached many people around the world, in places such as the former Soviet Union, India, Africa, and America. Jonathan has a weekly television program called "Jewish Voice Today" that is broadcast from the U.S.A. The program teaches about the Jewish Roots of the Christian Faith and presents the Good-News of Salvation through Yeshua for Jews and Gentiles. Jonathan is the founder of the Messianic Congregation Shema Yisrael in Rochester, New York, where he was the Senior Rabbi from 1984-1993.

Other Affiliations : Chairman of the MJBI Board, executive director of “Hear O Israel” evangelistic festivals, and active board member of the following ministries: Vision for Israel; Messianic Jewish Alliance of America; Messianic Vision; MAOZ; Paul Wilbur Ministries; The Jerusalem House of Prayer; and Executive Committee member of Toward Jerusalem Council II (TJC2). Jonathan also partners with the MJBI at his large evangelistic Jewish outreaches to plant new schools/congregations.

Ira Brawer , Boca Raton, Florida, USA Website: www.aytschayim.org

Born in 1950 in New York, Ira was raised in an observant Jewish household. He and his family frequented an Orthodox synagogue and, like most Jewish youths, he had his Bar Mitzvah at 13 years of age. After spending many years apart from Judaism, as an adult he found the Messiah Yeshua through the Ministry of Eliezer Urbach in 1984. He was ordained as a rabbi by the UMJC (Union of Messianic-Jewish Congregations) in 1991, after having completed the training of the UMJC Yeshiva Institute.

He also is a graduate in Theology from Colorado Christian University. In 1991, answering G-d’s call, he and his family moved to southern Florida and planted the Messianic-Jewish Synagogue Ayts Chayim (Tree of Life) as a witness to the surrounding Jewish community.

Jeff Collins, Midland, Texas, USA Website: www.jeffcollinsministry.com

Jeff Collins has been in active ministry for over twenty five years. Saved at the age of five and raised in a Christian home, Jeff was healed of a ligament tissue disease at the age of fourteen. That same year, Jeff realized God had called him to preach the Gospel.

After pastoring a church in Texas for six years, Jeff and his wife, Milicent, have been anointed of God to reach out into international fields. Currently they are focused on church planting efforts in Europe and the Middle East. They have also helped the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute in various nations throughout the world. Jeff Collins Ministries is committed to preparing the world for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jeff and Milicent have been married for twenty three years, and are blessed to have their four children, Faith, Joy, Joel, and Abigail, serving alongside them.

Geoff Cohen, Southlake, Texas, USA Website: http://jewish.gatewaypeople.com

Geoffrey Cohen was raised in the Orthodox Jewish traditions and brought up in private Jewish schools in South Africa. He was very opposed to the message of the gospel until he had a powerful encounter with the L-rd in Jerusalem in 1984.

Geoffrey was so dramatically changed that, with great authority and power, he began to preach the message he had so strongly opposed. He committed to preach the gospel anywhere G-d led him, and the L-rd opened numerous doors for him. He has preached in many nations and on many continents, and seen both Jews and Gentiles come to the L-rd during his 24 years of ministry. Geoffrey has taught in Bible Schools around the world and preached on television, the radio and in churches.

He has a Bachelors degree in Theology, is an ordained minister and is currently serving as the Pastor of Jewish Ministries at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. Geoffrey is married with three children, and his whole family serves the L-rd together.

John Fischer, Th. D., Palm Harbor, Florida, USA

Rabbi Dr. John Fischer was born in Budapest, Hungary, to survivors of the Holocaust. He immigrated to the United States in 1949. He received a BS from Philadelphia College of Bible, an M.S. from Temple University, an M.A. from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, and his B.J.S. in Jewish Thought from Spertus College of Judaica. Dr. Fischer received his Ph. D. in Education/Religion, from the University of South Florida, and his Th. D. in Judaic Studies, from California Graduate School of Theology.

Dr. Fischer has been Professor and Chairman of Judaic Studies at St. Petersburg Theological Seminary, where he also served as Vice President of Academic Affairs. Rabbi Fischer served as Rosh Yeshiva at Netzer David International Yeshiva, and Harcourt Samuel Messianic Yeshiva. He has been adjunct Faculty in Religious Studies at St. Petersburg Junior College, lecturer at the Messianic Yeshiva of the Ukraine and founder and Rabbi of Congregation Ohr Chadash in Clearwater, FL. He has also served as contributing Editor to Messianic Outreach and Mishkan.

Other Affiliations: President, Association of Messianic Believers, President, American Association of Messianic Jewish Believers, Chairman, Credentials Committee, Union Of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Steering Committee, Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, Chairman, Administrative Committee, International Messianic Jewish Alliance, Executive Committee, International Messianic Jewish Alliance, Vice President, International Messianic Jewish Alliance, and Board of Advisors, Lederer Messianic Ministries.

Dr. Fischer has been married since 1972 to his wife Patrice, and they have two children, Eve and Seth.

Raymond Gannon, Ph.D. Springfield, Missouri. USA Website: www.allisrael2020.org

Dr. Gannon serves as the director of the Messianic Jewish Studies program of the King’s College and Seminary in Van Nuys, California, as well as the national representative for Jewish ministries for Israel’s Redemption Jewish Ministries.

Dr. Gannon has a B.S. from Bethany Bible College, an M.A. and Ph.D. from California Graduate School of Theology, an M.A. and M.Div. from the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary, a Th.M. from Princeton Theological Seminary, and a second Ph.D. from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.

Dr. Gannon served on the division of world missions, and was appointed to Israel for 15 years, as well as serving as professor at Central Bible College, Valley Forge Christian College, Christ for the Nations (New York campus), UMJC Messiah Yeshiva, Bethlehem Bible College, Israel College of the Bible, which he founded and now has three campuses and classes in four languages, Evangel University, and the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary.

Ray has trained missionaries and messianic pastors over 30 years. Ray has been married to his wife, Kassiani for 39 years, and they have three adult children and seven grandchildren.

Boaz Johnson, Ph.D., Chicago, Illinois, USA Website: www.northpark.edu

Dr. Johnson was born in New Delhi, India, and was trained in a radical Hindu school. In 1973 he was given a copy of the New Testament. The image of Yeshua’s death on the cross because of the sins of the world captured his mind and his emotions completely. Not even one Hindu god did for him what Yeshua had done. Boaz gave his life to Yeshua the Messiah on April 15, 1973.

He received his Ph.D. in Theological Studies from Trinity International University with a dissertation entitled: "The Theological Conception of the Land, Creation of the Land, and Intertextuality, with Reference to Select Jewish Texts of Late Antiquity."

Dr. Johnson received his Th.M. in Biblical Hebrew, and Biblical and Semitic Languages, and his M.Div. from Union Biblical Seminary in Punishes, India. He is the Chair of the Department of Biblical and Theological Studies and the Director of the Faculty of Christian Life and Thought at North Park University, as well as an experienced speaker.

Daniel Juster, Th.D., Jerusalem, Israel, and Boca Raton, Florida, USA Website: www.tikkunministries.org

Dr. Juster has been a leader in the Messianic-Jewish Movement since 1972 and has been teaching Apologetics since 1971. Dan is the former Senior Pastor of Beth Messiah Congregation (House of the Messiah) in Montgomery Village, Maryland, U.S.A., and supervises several congregations in the U.S.A. as well as in several other countries. He is also director of the Advisors and Member of the Messianic Bible Institute and School of Theology, and director of Tikkun Ministries. He obtained his degree from Wheaton College and McCormick Theological Seminary, and has ministered at countless conferences and churches. He is the author of several books, among them: Growing to Maturity; Jewish Roots; Israel, the Church and the Last Days; The Irrevocable Calling and others.

Other Affiliations: Vice Chairman of the MJBI Board and Academic Overseer; Member of Phi Sigma Tau, the National Philosophy Honor Society; Board Member of MAOZ Ministries; Board Member of Dove Fellowship International; Founding President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations; Executive Committee member of Toward Jerusalem Council II (TJC2). Dan also developed and oversees the MJBI curriculum.

Elliot Klayman

Elliot's primary interests include Jewish History (with special emphasis on the medieval and early modern periods), Rabbinic literature, Hebrew culture, Messianism and conversational Hebrew. He is the President of the Board of the Messianic Jewish Theological Institute, and an adjunct instructor at the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute. He is the Editor-in-Chief of The Messianic Outreach, and Articles Editor of Kesher. He also serves as Executive Director of Messianic Literature Outreach, chairs the Judicial Board of Elders of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations, and serves on the Board of Jewish Voice Ministries International. Elliot is an Elder at Beth Messiah Congregation and has been an MSI faculty and board member since its inception.

Educational Background: M.A. Jewish History, The Ohio State University (2006).

Jeffrey Seif, D.Min. , Dallas, Texas, USA Website: www.levitt.com

Dr. Seif has been appointed as Zola’s successor at the teaching helm of Zola Levitt Ministries. With Zola, he previously co-created The Institute of Jewish-Christian Studies, and now is assuming duties as the ministry’s principal spokesperson. He teaches on television, writes books and articles and ministers in churches across America.

Jeff is also an adjunct professor of Bible and Ministry as well as Chair of the Jewish Studies Department at Christ for the Nations Institute (Dallas, TX). In his spare time, he is a chaplain for the Desoto (TX) Police Department. Jeff has authored a number of publications. His books include: Evolution of a Revolution: Reflections on Ancient Christianity in its Judaistic, Hellenistic and Romanistic Expressions (University Press of America); Origin of the Christian Faith (CFN Press in JSM); BodyWorks: Church-Body Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology, with Monte Mitchell, MD, DO, JD; and The House That God Built with Zola Levitt. His professional papers and articles include: "The Rise and Demise of Messianic Judaism in Antiquity," presented at annual conference of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations; "Testimonies" in Chosen People Magazine, a number of works in Levitt Letter, and an instructional series for the Institute of Jewish Christian Studies.

Jeff has a master’s degree and doctorate from Southern Methodist University, Dallas, and is also an alumnus of Moody Bible Institute, Trinity College, Perkins School of Theology, and Graduate Theological Foundation. He has appeared on the 700 Club, and has over 100 TV appearances on subjects dealing with the Jewish origin of the Christian faith. He has been a Bible college professor for the last seventeen years, teaching over 400 students each semester. He has also been a pastor with at least four churches spanning over twenty years.

Eitan Shishkoff, Haifa, Israel Website: www.tents-of-mercy.org

In 1989 Eitan Shishkoff had a vision. He saw an oasis with tents full of provisions of every description. The Spirit of God spoke to him that this represented Eitan’s call to establish a place of refuge and healing for the returning exiles. Many of these new immigrants would come with few economic resources but God had promised: “I will restore the tents of Jacob and have mercy on his dwelling places.” Jeremiah 30:18. Seven years later, the vision of Tents of Mercy became a physical reality. Today God is continuing to expand this ministry to lend a helping hand to His beloved people in the Galilee. Eitan and Connie have four children and three grandchildren.

Joseph Shulam, Jerusalem, Israel Website: www.netivhah.org.il

Joseph is considered one of the greatest theologians today on Jewish backgrounds.

Joseph Shulam was born in Bulgaria, yet has lived in Israel since 1948, a descendant of Bulgarian Jews that actively participated in the formation of the State of Israel. Joseph is President and Founder of the Netivyah Bible Instruction Ministry in Jerusalem, Israel.

He is the author of three great theological works: The Jewish Roots of Romans, The Jewish Roots of Acts and The Jewish Roots of Galatians. He is a graduate in Archeology and the History of Judaism from the Epoch of the Second Temple from Hebrew University in Jerusalem, and David Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN.

Joseph lectures in various places throughout the world teaching the Bible and the Restoration of the First-Century Church. He works in Israel full time, and is a master of the Talmud, arguing the rabbinic texts with great tenacity.

Joseph is a pioneer of the Messianic Jewish movement in Israel, Brazil, and Finland.

Rabbi Marty Waldman, Dallas, Texas, USA Website: www.bhsdallas.org

Marty Waldman is the Senior Rabbi of Baruch HaShem Messianic Synagogue in Dallas, Texas. His calling into full-time service to the Messiah led him to obtain degrees from Dallas Bible College and the UMJC Yeshiva, who conferred upon him Smicha (Rabbinic ordination) as Rabbi.

Baruch HaShem is connected nationally and internationally to many other Messianic works and congregations. Rabbi Waldman serves the TJCII initiative as Executive General Secretary. He has previously served on the Promise Keepers’ Board of Directors and served for two terms as President of the Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations (UMJC). In his earlier years, Rabbi Waldman served with Chosen People Ministries before founding Baruch HaShem Synagogue.

Marty is the son of Holocaust survivors, and grew up in a traditionally Jewish home. His spiritual search led him down many paths before he finally came to the Truth. Marty accepted Yeshua as his Messiah in January of 1975, and soon after was given the heart to share the gospel among his Jewish brethren. Marty and Marleen have been involved with Jewish ministry for many years before planting Baruch HaShem Synagogue. They have three wonderful children and three grandchildren.

Wayne Wilks Jr., Ph.D., Euless, Texas, USA Website: www.mjbi.org

Dr. Wilks is currently the International Director of the MJBI. After serving for nine years on pastoral staff at Shady Grove church in Grand Prairie, Texas, U.S.A., he was sent out to begin the first MJBI in Odessa, Ukraine, in 1996. After that, he also lived in Hungary and Cyprus, and now splits his time between Dallas and Jerusalem.

Wayne and his wife, Bonnie, have a 21-year-old daughter named Julia. Wayne received his B.A. in Biblical Studies from Abilene Christian University, his M.A. in Speech Communication from Oklahoma State University, and his Ph.D. in College Teaching from the University of North Texas. He also did doctoral work in preaching at the Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Other Affiliations: Executive Committee member of Toward Jerusalem Council II